The San Diego Padres’ minor league catching coordinator has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Oswaldo Pirela, 34, who is from Venezuela, was detained while traveling in El Paso, Texas, and remains in custody.
“We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the Padres said in a statement, according to Yahoo Sports.
“We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time,” it added.
Pirela reportedly wasn’t carrying his work permit card at the time.
⚾ A Padres minor-league coach was detained while traveling home to his family.
ICE agents detained Oswaldo Pirela at El Paso International Airport on Sunday. The former Texas Rangers minor leaguer, who sought asylum after leaving Venezuela, remained in custody Tuesday as his… pic.twitter.com/oNnshUUK6Z
— Chron (@chron) August 18, 2026
Yahoo Sports shared further:
The Padres’ Triple-A affiliate is based out of El Paso, Texas. Pirela was reportedly flying home to his family in Phoenix at the time of his detainment, per The Athletic.
Pirela’s family also spoke about his detainment. His sister, Daniela Pirela, spoke with NBC News, telling them her brother was detained around 5 a.m. on Sunday while traveling for work. Oswaldo’s brother, Jorge, also confirmed the detainment, posting a lengthy message on Instagram asking for Oswaldo to be freed.
The ICE website does list Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez as a current detainee. He is currently at the El Paso Processing Center, per ICE’s website.
Pirela and his family entered the United States legally in 2014 after seeking asylum.
However, their case remains unprocessed.
Daniela Pirela said she doesn’t know why his asylum case has taken so long to process.
“He did everything lawfully as the U.S. asks,” she said, according to NBC News.
“He loves this country,” she added.
San Diego Padres minor-league catching coordinator Oswaldo José Pirela was detained by immigration authorities while traveling for work. Relatives say he is in the U.S. legally and want him released. https://t.co/SSt6hDXnM0
— NBC10 Boston (@NBC10Boston) August 18, 2026
NBC News has more:
Oswaldo Pirela has two U.S.-born daughters and lives outside Phoenix, Arizona, family members said on social media accounts verified by NBC News.
ADVERTISEMENT“Oswaldo, like me and other members of our family, was directly affected by persecution from the Venezuelan regime,” brother Jorge Heli Pirela said on Instagram. “We came to the United States seeking safety through the legal process, applied for asylum through the proper channels, and have worked hard to build our lives and become contributing members of American society.”
Jorge Pirela did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Monday.
On Instagram, he called Oswaldo “a devoted father, a dedicated coach, an exceptional worker, and someone who has earned the respect of his coworkers, former managers, employers, players, and the communities he has been part of.”
Daniela Pirela said she believes her brother was targeted due to his active asylum case. “There isn’t a reason why they detained him,” she said. “They still haven’t told us.”
The social media posts are part of the family’s rapid response to Pirela’s detention. They’ve publicly asked U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, D-Arizona, who represents Pirela’s home district, to intervene.
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